Is the maxspect gyre xf130 worth it?

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

I was reading about it and it says that it leaves no dead spots and a spontaneous wave pattern. Is it really worth getting one? They sound really nice, but is it true what they say? I was looking at it cause I know I have a some dead spots that I have some cyano building up in and was looking at this to get rid of the dead spots and I like the flow isn't the same all the time making it more realistic for the fish and corals. Making them happier in the end.

Wrasse · Nov 2, 2016

My first Gyre was a XF150 when they first came out and it kept my 6' tank water moving nicely. Despite the initial trouble with cord breakage and fragile plastic on the first few I'm not planning to switch to anything else unless I do something wild. I am now using a single XF230 and will have a second here some time soon.

One of the neat things about the smaller XF230s is you can remove one side if you like and you will end up with something small enough to use in the smallest of tanks.

sa6hir · Nov 2, 2016

I don't think you get cyno from dead spots! I have loads of flow in my tank but still have cyno! I did do some research on gyre not long a ago with mixed reviews, so I didn't buy one, but the new gyre are out now so was thinking about getting one, still waiting for some reviews on them!

CoralNerd · Nov 2, 2016

I like the pump.

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

Wrasse said:
My first Gyre was a XF150 when they first came out and it kept my 6' tank water moving nicely. Despite the initial trouble with cord breakage and fragile plastic on the first few I'm not planning to switch to anything else unless I do something wild. I am now using a single XF230 and will have a second here some time soon.

One of the neat things about the smaller XF230s is you can remove one side if you like and you will end up with something small enough to use in the smallest of tanks.

That's good to hear. I was thinking about getting one so that way the flow isn't the same all the time and is different. I have one jebao rw-8 right now and works but it looks like the flow isn't pushed all around the tank.

Wrasse · Nov 2, 2016

badstorm48 said:
That's good to hear. I was thinking about getting one so that way the flow isn't the same all the time and is different. I have one jebao rw-8 right now and works but it looks like the flow isn't pushed all around the tank.

I will throw it out there that the noise generated by the Gyre when it ramps up or down (pretty much any of the alternating modes) is enough to drive me nuts. You can very distinctly hear each step it takes as it changes speed in 10% increments. If it's only switching around every few hours this might not be a big deal but if you sit anywhere near the tank and plan to alternate direction every 30 seconds this is something to keep in mind. I had a house guest recently who planned to camp out on my couch who lasted no more than an hour before the question "So uh... can I unplug the fish tank?" was raised.

I have high hopes they'll correct this with a firmware update to the controller but for now mine are going to be staying in a constant speed for a longer duration.

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

Wrasse said:
I will throw it out there that the noise generated by the Gyre when it ramps up or down (pretty much any of the alternating modes) is enough to drive me nuts. You can very distinctly hear each step it takes as it changes speed in 10% increments. If it's only switching around every few hours this might not be a big deal but if you sit anywhere near the tank and plan to alternate direction every 30 seconds this is something to keep in mind. I had a house guest recently who planned to camp out on my couch who lasted no more than an hour before the question "So uh... can I unplug the fish tank?" was raised.

I have high hopes they'll correct this with a firmware update to the controller but for now mine are going to be staying in a constant speed for a longer duration.

Interesting that is good to know. My tank is in my bedroom so that would be a big deal. Especially with my girlfriend that is a very light sleeper. Is it like a loud vibration noise or something?

Joe parrish · Nov 2, 2016

I had one I liked it I like gadget things I thought it was cool could do a lot of different modes change the blades ect. I did not hear anything out of mine. My only issue was maybe I had to much of one for a 45 jbj due to the length and if you turned it up high enough it would splosh water out but other than that I liked it. They are over priced I think

Wrasse · Nov 2, 2016

badstorm48 said:
Interesting that is good to know. My tank is in my bedroom so that would be a big deal. Especially with my girlfriend that is a very light sleeper. Is it like a loud vibration noise or something?

I'm not sure how to describe it so I'll just post a short recording of it for you. Here it's set to ramp up/down every 10 seconds then hold for 10 seconds. This is by no means scientific but I think there's about 20dBA coming from the Gyre which I guess technically is still quiet but it's not something I would be able to sleep beside. The other thing that drives me a little nuts is the variable flow can sometimes play with my silent overflow but I'm hoping having a second for the opposite side of the tank working in reverse sync will help with that.

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

Yeah that seems annoying to hear when trying to sleep

Leslie Tabor · Nov 2, 2016

I love my Gyres...I am running 2 with the controller. The Lunar Tidal cycle is awesome! My tank is in my main living room and I dont hear them much...at first I did but then it just became white noise. I am VERY anal about the sounds of my tank...I could see where it would be an issue in a bedroom but not anymore than anything else.

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

I might give it a try. I have a 40 breeder and when I first started it. I didn't have 200 dollars at the time to get an expensive wave maker like that but now I can and am looking at upgrading some of my equipment. I'll have to see what their return policy is. Any one know if it has a customer satisfaction guarantee with it to where if I don't like it I can return it and get my money back?

Scubabum · Nov 2, 2016

I was running two mp10's and had a few dead spots. Bought the Gyre 130 about 6 months ago and couldn't be happier. My coral looks much happier as well. I highly recommend the Gyre.

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

That's good to hear. It does sound like it is worth the money and like anything it has its ups and downs

badstorm48 · Nov 2, 2016

I'll get one and give it a try.

Leslie Tabor · Nov 2, 2016

I do have to say until you get used to it, the worst thing is taking it apart and cleaning them!

iLLwiLL · Nov 2, 2016

Definitely worth it. 1 fx150 replaced 2 mp40s in my display and the flow is so much better.

These things can be finicky tho and go together like a jig saw puzzle. if you get an error code there's not much info out there that diagnose, you just gotta play with them to get everything working as it should.

malacoda · Nov 2, 2016

Love my XF130. Have had it for 10 months now. I run it on alternating gyre mode under 50% (it's in a 24g tank) and it's practically silent. Much quieter than the MP10 I tried. I have quite a bit of live rock set up in a pretty tall formation. It creates a few spots that have low flow, but thanks to the gyre there no dead spots.

As someone else mentioned, it can take a little while to take apart and clean the first time around. But, now that I'm familiar with it, I can take it apart, clean all the parts, and have it back together again in 10 minutes (unless I let to much coraline build up on it. In that case, of course, it needs to soak in a vinegar mix for a while just like any other pump.).